Hypatia

Hypatia (hĪpāˈshə) [key], d.415, Alexandrian Neoplatonic philosopher and mathematician, a woman renowned for her learning, eloquence, and beauty. Little is known of her writings. Her fame is largely owing to her barbarous murder by a band of monks, said to have been encouraged by the archbishop, St. Cyril of Alexandria (a personal and political enemy of the prefect of Egypt, who was believed to have been Hypatia's lover).